Leading agriculture innovation and market transformation with biologicals

What are the main technological or scientific challenges in scaling biological solutions to be as effective and consistent as synthetic inputs?

Biologicals don’t need to completely replace chemicals to be successful. In fact, combining them can offer significant advantages—such as reducing chemical usage, lowering the risk of chemical resistance, improving environmental impact, and ultimately delivering better ROI for growers. In my view, biologicals should be seen as an additional tool to help farmers manage their daily challenges more efficiently.

There are already biological technologies on the market with high efficacy, comparable or even superior to chemical solutions in specific applications. However, adoption and performance vary by country due to agronomic conditions, crop economics, regulatory frameworks and target obligations. Despite this, many countries already benefit from efficient biocontrol solutions.

Let me share an example from Brazil that illustrate this point. One of the fastest-growing segments is bionematicides, where effective and affordable chemical options are scarce. Growers faced with productivity losses were motivated to explore biological alternatives. The industry responded by investing in biocontrol solutions tailored to this need. After a brief learning curve, several companies successfully launched effective bionematicide products.

Recent surveys in Brazil show that bionematicides have the highest adoption rate among biologicals, reaching 28% penetration, followed by bioinsecticides (25%) and biofungicides (18%).

This is a clear example where a chemical solutions were less present and at high cost been pressured by  a Biologicals alternative. Favorable local conditions, grower willingness to adopt new technologies and faster regulatory approval for biologicals (compared to chemicals) helped accelerated this shift in Brazil.

Do you believe this space is ready for further growth?

Absolutely. There’s still tremendous untapped potential to expand biological adoption in Brazil. Although Brazil is a global agricultural powerhouse, a large portion of the market still doesn’t use biocontrol products or biostimulants. There’s a clear opportunity to increase penetration and develop solutions targeted to specific crops, pests, and growing conditions.

Another example is Dalbulus maidis, a pest that severely affects corn in parts of Brazil. The conventional approach involves repeated chemical applications, which are costly and often offer limited control in high pest conditions.  In response, companies have developed bioinsecticides that may not have same insecticide efficacy immediately after  application, but provide longer-lasting effects—enabling better integrated pest management (IPM) and pest control.

Returning to your question about scientific challenges: despite some great success stories, a few key barriers remain. One is the short shelf life of many biologicals—often less than two years. Reason current R&Ds are focused on extending shelf life, eliminating the need for cold chain storage, and enhancing product efficacy when we talk about current 1st generation solutions.

We're also witnessing major advancements in second- and third-generation biologicals, including gene-editing techniques and metabolite-based technologies, which will become new market standards in a few years.

Regulatory challenges are another critical piece. As innovation accelerates, regulatory frameworks must evolve to ensure timely market access. In LATAM, regulations vary greatly by country. Brazil stands out with a modern, updated framework—but differences with Europe and the U.S. pose challenges for global R&D teams working across geographies.

For example, Rovensa Next has completed 13 acquisitions globally. Syngenta acquired Valagro— and now also part of Novartis. —bringing strong biological expertise. Other examples include Corteva, which acquired Stoller and Symborg, and Koppert, that did an alliance with Amoéba for further product development. Locally, Biotrop, a fast-growing Brazilian company, was acquired by Biobest at the end of 2023 after demonstrating outstanding results and solutions in Brazilian Market.

These moves reflect a clear strategic pattern. On the other hand, as the global market expands, competition intensifies  andprice pressure is rising in several segments, making differentiation looking ahead even more critical.

Do you foresee further consolidation in the biologicals sector?

Yes. The market has already experienced a major initial wave of consolidation—but it’s not over. Many new players and startups continue to enter this fast-growing sector, which is expanding at double-digit rates globally.

However, some biologicals are becoming commoditized. To stay relevant, companies must continue to invest in innovation. This R&D race will likely drive further consolidation as larger players seek to fill gaps in their portfolios and accelerate product development.

Which kind of advice would you give to agribusiness leaders aiming to drive sustainable innovation in crop protection?

Although the biologicals sector is full of innovation, it's essential to ensure that these solutions reach the grower. R&D is booming—startups, universities, research centers, and companies are all working hard—but unless innovation is translated into practical tools for growers, it fails its purpose.

That’s why collaboration across the innovation ecosystem is vital—ensuring products are brought to market with the right timing, pricing, and distribution strategy. Companies must also invest in training and education, as biologicals often behave differently from conventional chemicals and require new approaches in the field.

In your view, which regions or countries are leading in developing this technology and spreading innovation worldwide?

In LATAM, Brazil is clearly leading the way. It’s the key driver of biological development in the region and is expected to play a major role globally by 2030—potentially even exporting technologies to other markets.

In Europe, there's a high level of innovation and a strong regulatory push to reduce chemical use. This is creating momentum for biological adoption. While regulation can be a hurdle due to approval speed, the political commitment to sustainable farming is helping to fast-track new solutions.

Despite the different frameworks and market dynamics, Brazil and Europe stand out as global leaders in this space.

What type of talent do you believe agribusiness should prioritise hiring today, particularly given the growing need for innovation and technology?

Conclusion

Biological innovations are reshaping agriculture, offering promising alternatives to traditional crop protection. As the market matures, success will depend on overcoming scientific and regulatory hurdles, fostering industry collaboration, and ensuring solutions reach growers in practical, effective ways.

Within Latin America, Brazil stands out as a global leader in this biological revolution. Consolidation will continue—and companies that combine operational excellence, innovation, and grower proximity will emerge as long-term winners.